Riders at Arena UK have been targeted by thieves, who stole bridles, saddles and other kit from competitors.
Wayne Garrick was one of those who had tack taken over the weekend after arriving at the Grantham venue last Thursday (13 January), ready to compete on Friday.
“We spent the day whizzing between classes and horses,” he told Your Horse. “Each time we went to and from the lorry we re-locked the tack locker which was a pain but still something we felt needed to be done as we are pretty new to the showjumping stay away scene.”
Wayne woke early on Saturday and after seeing a Facebook post from another rider, Jessica Hayes, who had their bridles stolen from a mobile tack locker, he asked Ibi Whatley to check his.
“They were all good, until she went to the supposed locked one,” he said. “It was closed and had the handles turned back to normal.
“Only it was unlocked and completely empty bar a dirty belly band, a pink towel and some bags of sweets. We were in utter disbelief and shock.”
Wayne notified police and the show centre.
He was missing five saddles — a black and a brown Voltaire Lexington, a brown Stubben Phoenix Elite, a brown Fairfax Monoflap and a “one of a kind” Aviar hunter jump saddle.
They also took girths, stirrups and leathers, as well as a wheelbarrow, which was later found.
Wayne was “blown away” with the kindness of others following the bad news.
“We received so much help from other riders with tack and saddles for the early classes, and my sponsor Julie Masters of Aviar and Custom Saddles drove from Evesham to Arena UK to fit two saddles for my guys and provide girths, leathers and stirrups.”
He said that after speaking to other competitors who had items stolen, he believed the tack was taken on Friday evening.
“It’s been a huge blow to our confidence in stay away shows and also in the so-called locks on horseboxes,” he added.
“With a little digging it’s clear that unless bespoke, most locker keys are generic. So what the point of them is, is beyond me.
“We want to create as many deterrents as possible and give people a heads up on ways to improve their own safety and security.”
